MANITOULIN — The Manitoulin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind the public to assess and manage the risks of their recreational activities so that you can safely enjoy the outdoors.
Once the ice starts to rot, the thickness of the ice can’t be used to determine if the ice is safe. Ice can appear solid however the way the ice melts will dramatically weaken the ice even if it remains thick. Ice that has formed over flowing water, springs, pressure cracks, old ice holes or around the mouths of rivers and streams can be weaker. Ice can erode from the bottom up leaving you no obvious warning signs.
Ice conditions change from lake-to-lake and bay-to-bay.
Children should not play on or near ice covered bodies of water unless supervised by an experienced, safety-conscious adult who is familiar with local conditions and currents. Talk to your children about risks pertaining to lakes, rivers, creeks, ditches, and swimming pools.
Ice Safety Tips:
- Do not travel on ice alone.
- Constantly scan for changing conditions.
- Do not drink alcohol and travel over ice covered bodies of water.
- Do not travel over ice-covered water in early and late winter when conditions are more dangerous.
- If in doubt, don’t go out!
